Trump Considers 90-Day Delay on TikTok Ban Amid Controversy

As Donald Trump prepares for his inauguration as the 47th president, he suggests a possible reprieve for TikTok from an impending ban that has sparked significant debate among users and government officials.

Donald Trump has indicated that he will "most likely" grant TikTok a 90-day reprieve from a ban scheduled to be implemented this Sunday, just before he officially begins his term as the 47th President of the United States. In an interview with NBC News, Trump revealed that a formal announcement regarding the ban is expected to be made on Monday following his inauguration. The announcement comes after TikTok warned it would "go dark" on Sunday if the Biden administration did not provide guarantees that the ban would not be enforced.

The Supreme Court recently upheld legislation that prohibits TikTok's operation in the U.S. unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, divests its interests in the platform before January 19. As of now, ByteDance has declined to pursue a sale, raising concerns about TikTok's future in the U.S. TikTok reported on Friday that the White House and Department of Justice had not provided adequate clarity or assurance to enable continued service delivery related to the app's availability.

Responding to TikTok's concerns, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre dismissed their warning as “a stunt,” emphasizing that the responsibility for implementing this law will fall to the incoming Trump administration. "There’s no reason for TikTok or any other companies to take action in the coming days before the new administration takes over," she said.

In a notable twist, Trump claimed that he had communicated with China's President Xi Jinping regarding TikTok, amongst other issues. TikTok's CEO Shou Zi Chew is also set to attend Trump's inauguration, which could position the app favorably in ongoing discussions about the ban.

U.S. national security officials have raised alarms that Chinese operatives could misuse data collected via TikTok, although the platform has consistently refuted these allegations. Amidst the controversy, the Chinese embassy in Washington accused the U.S. of unjustly targeting TikTok, asserting that "China will take necessary measures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests."

The social media platform has garnered immense popularity, boasting 170 million users in the U.S., many of whom have actively rallied against the ban. TikTok's relevance has been notably significant in helping political campaigns to connect with younger demographics.

Despite having supported a TikTok ban in the past, Trump has more recently expressed a favorable impression of the platform, citing the substantial viewership his content received during the previous campaign. If the current law takes effect, TikTok could face removal from app stores and web hosting services shortly, impacting countless content creators and small businesses that rely on the platform for income.

Many TikTok creators voiced their concerns about the potential ban, with some stating it would drastically alter their livelihood. Nicole Bloomgarden, a fashion designer using TikTok for promotion, expressed to the BBC, "Indirectly, TikTok was the majority of my income because all brands want their products featured on the app."

If a ban is enforced, parallels might be drawn to India's situation in 2020, where numerous Chinese-owned apps, including TikTok, were shut down following tensions with China. Since then, other platforms have surged in popularity, having filled the void left by TikTok. As the U.S. deliberates its position on the app, the situation remains fluid with significant implications for both users and content creators alike.